Adar Poonawalla tweeted the joint statement saying, "This should clarify any miscommunication. We are all united in the fight against this pandemic."
Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech on Tuesday jointly communicated their pledge for the smooth rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to India and the world. In the joint statement, SII CEO Adar Poonawalla and Bharat Biotech's chairman and managing director Dr Krishna Ella conveyed their combined intent to develop, manufacture and supply the COVID-19 vaccines for India and overseas.
"The more important task in front of them is saving the lives and livelihoods of populations in India and the world. Vaccines are a global public health good and they have the power to save lives and accelerate the return to economic normalcy at the earliest," the statement said.
Adar Poonawalla tweeted the joint statement saying, "This should clarify any miscommunication. We are all united in the fight against this pandemic."
With the approval of Covishield and Covaxin by the Indian drug regulators, the focus is now on their supply and distribution so that those who need it the most receive high quality, safe and effective vaccines.
This clarification comes after Dr Ella on Monday expressed his anger over Poonawalla's comment that only the vaccines of Pfizer, Moderna and Oxford-AstraZeneca were effective, while others were 'safe just like water'. In a press conference, Ella responded to the allegation calling the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine trial lousy.
Without naming SII, Ella said, "We do 200% honest clinical trials and yet we receive backlash. If I am wrong, tell me. Some companies have branded me (our vaccine) like 'water'. I want to deny that. We are scientists." Claiming that Covaxin has shown the lowest side-effects, Ella said the company has noticed less than 10% adverse reactions during trials.
Meanwhile prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday had pointed out that the world's largest Covid-19 vaccination program is also going to start in India and that the CSIR and other institutions are working together and came together to face every challenge and find solutions for new situations.
India has one of the largest vaccine manufacturing capacities in the world (including the largest vaccine producer - Serum Institute of India) and has secured authorization to mass-produce the AstraZeneca, Novavax and Gamaleya Research Institute vaccines.
India's vaccine rollout will begin with frontline healthcare workers and individuals over the age of 50 years gaining priority. The government aims to vaccinate some 250 million people over six-to-eight months.
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